Cuba denounces ‘record’ economic damage from US embargo

HAVANA: The United States embargo on Cuba inflicted record economic losses of more than $8 billion on the communist nation between March 2024 and February 2025, as shown in a government report released on Monday. The embargo, which has been in place since 1962, has been intensified by President Donald Trump since early 2024. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated that the damages reported surpass the previous year's peak by 7%.

This figure does not account for the impact of the energy blockade imposed by Washington in January, nor the secondary sanctions on Cuban entities introduced in May. Rodriguez emphasized that the embargo does not target the Cuban government but rather cripples the daily lives of its people. He blamed the current crisis on a series of punitive measures imposed by the United States, while the US attributes the hardships to Cuba's poor internal management.

Living conditions on the island are dire, with residents experiencing frequent power outages and persistent food and fuel shortages. Rodriguez cited a rise in infant mortality, from four per 1,000 births in 2018 to 9.9 per 1,000 births in 2025, as proof of the deteriorating conditions. Despite the hardships, Rodriguez ruled out declaring a humanitarian crisis and praised the solidarity of the Cuban people.

He also noted that while Cuba maintains communication with the US State Department, it does not anticipate any normalization of relations due to the US's lack of progress and unwillingness to engage.